Tapirus bairdii, the only Central American Tapir

Posted May 23, 2019

The Tapiridae family is made up of a single genus, which includes only 5 species, four from the Americas and one from Asia. Their closest relatives are rhinoceroses, followed by donkeys, horses and zebras.

Characteristics

Tapirus bairdii Gill. It is the only tapir that lives in Central America, except in El Salvador. It can weigh up to 300kg and measure 2.60m long. Their fur is dark brown on top and paler on the bottom, with white stripes around their ears and lips. They are herbivores and it is known that they consume the following species:

Guarumo, Cecropia obtusifolia

Cucurbits, Cucurbita sp.

Pepper, Piper sp.

Corn, Zea maíz

Chichipín, Hamelia patens

They reproduce once a year in the rainy season. Both parents take care of the baby for 1 to 2 years. Their young are light brown with spots and white stripes to camouflage themselves. These spots disappear with time.

Tapirs and water

Due to their large size, tapirs have difficulty dissipating heat, so they are mostly nocturnal when lower temperatures occur at night, but this is not enough. For tapirs, water is essential in their life. They need it to regulate their temperature. Several studies have found more abundance of tapirs in sites with aguadas presence throughout the year.

Ecological role

The tapir is a seed disperser of secondary species and is a valuable indicator of the ecological status of a site, because tapirs are sensitive to changes in the ecosystem.

Danger of extinction

Their populations are in constant decline due to the loss and fragmentation of their habitat, followed by hunting. According to the IUCN red list, the Central American tapir is in danger of extinction. In the wild, it is estimated that only 1,000-1,500 tapirs live in Guatemala, so it is important to spread the knowledge of this species for its care and conservation.